Chicken & Waffles Cupcakes with Maple Syrup Frosting

The southern litmus test: If you’re drooling right now, you must have spent some time in your life below the Mason-Dixon line.

Chicken and waffles (yes, served together) is a southern tradition. And let me tell you, if you want to get your hands on some of the world’s best chicken and waffles, here in Atlanta is the place.

I wanted to pay an homage to this salty-meets-sweet southern dish the best way I know how—with cupcakes.

So here you have it. A waffle-inspired yellow buttermilk cupcake topped with maple syrup buttercream frosting and a mini helping of chicken and waffles.

And just in case that whole deal doesn’t sound amazing enough, let me tell you what else is special about these guys: Each cupcake is infused with a shot of straight-up maple syrup right in the center.

Why? Because I’m just like Buddy the Elf. I try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

I completed my cupcakes with a little help from another Atlanta institution, Chick-fil-A. If you want to fry up your own bite-size bits of chicken for these ‘cakes, more power to you. But I know that I could never top Chick-fil-A’s nuggets. Plus they’re literally the perfect size.

And if you’re wondering how you eat these, I’ll let you in on a little lesser-known culinary secret: Just bite down. Make sure you wrap your teeth around each layer from top to bottom and take a huge bite of everything at once. It’s not called chicken then waffles, it’s chicken and waffles.

Want to get started on your own chicken and waffles cupcakes? Check out the recipe right here:

Sift or whisk together both flours, baking soda, baking power and salt.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Reduce the speed to medium and add the whole eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the egg yolks and beat until thoroughly combined.

Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with two additions of buttermilk. Be sure to mix well after each addition.

Beat in the vanilla extract last.

Pour the batter into liners, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way up. Bake for 20 minutes, or until they pass the toothpick test. Lift them out onto wire racks to cool.

With a food injector, inject roughly one teaspoon of maple syrup into the center of each cooled cupcake.

Make the frosting

In a small bowl, beat together the butter and syrup until blended. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add just enough maple syrup or milk to thin out the consistency.

Ice and decorate the cupcakes by piping a ring of frosting onto each. With a toothpick or wooden pick, skewer a chicken nugget and waffle piece together, then slide the pick into the top of the cupcake. Drizzle the top with a bit of maple syrup.

Michael

I am intrigued. I was hoping for bits of the chicken nuggets inside the cupcake, too.
Perhaps that would be overkilled but I see it as DeathbyChck-filled-A Cupcakes! Can’t wait to get back to HOT-lanta for this one

MJ

I made these last week for a football tailgate (and brought some extra to work). I actually ended up with 3 dozen cupcakes, and thank goodness I did. These were gone instantly, and I’ve already got requests for more. I used Chick-fil-A nuggets and Waffle House waffles to save some time. The buttermilk cake is a great balance to the super sweet syrup and icing. I can’t wait to make these again!

Michael

Come to think of it, you are right! Why would I eat Turkey on Thanksgiving when I can eat it most days of the week. This year, I am out on Thanksgiving Turkey. Instead I’ll just have a little more of etieyvhrng else. FYI…also new this year is the first annual Cold Turkey 5-K Fun Run!

Sarah

bpoe

I made these for a coworker’s Birthday yesterday and they were out of this world!!! I got 36 regular cupcakes out of this cake recipe…next time I’ll cut the recipe in half. Also, I needed to add 8 oz of cream cheese to the frosting, the butter/powdered sugar combo just wasn’t tasting right to me — the maple flavor still came through. Will definitely make again! Image the looks you’d get bringing in a 8″ or 9″ cake frosted with fried chicken pieces/strips on top a belgium waffle drizzled with syrup 😉

CutieCakz

Hi Taryn, thanks for the awesome recipe – it make a ton of cupcakes and a 6″ round but so friggin tasty. I’m thinking to use the recipe for a poundcake later this week. Photos are posted on my facebook page Cutie Cakz if you want to see my creation! Thanks for sharing! — Terri

Welcome!

I’m Taryn Williford. I write about cleaning and living well as the Lifestyle Editor at Apartment Therapy. You might also know me from the Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram. Other obsessions include: skincare, koozies, plants and boy bands.